AP-CSP Sem1 Final Exam Review

Binary

A way of representing information using only two options.

Bit

A contraction of 'Binary Digit'; the single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1.

Byte

A unit of digital information that consists of 8 bits.

Overflow Error

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too large.

Round-off Error

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too precise; the value is rounded.

Analog Data

Data with values that change continuously, or smoothly, over time, such as music or the position of a runner.

Digital Data

Data that changes discretely through a finite set of possible values.

Sampling

A process for creating a digital representation of analog data by measuring the analog data at regular intervals.

Lossless Compression

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something without losing information; this process is reversible.

Lossy Compression

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something in which some information is lost; this process is not reversible.

Intellectual Property

A work or invention resulting from creativity, for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, or trademark.

Creative Commons

A collection of public copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of a copyrighted work.

Computing Device

A machine that can run a program, such as computers, tablets, and servers.

Computing System

A group of computing devices and programs working together for a common purpose.

Computing Network

A group of interconnected computing devices capable of sending or receiving data.

Path

The series of connections between computing devices on a network from sender to receiver.

Bandwidth

The maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time, usually measured in bits per second.

Protocol

An agreed-upon set of rules specifying the behavior of some system.

IP Address

The unique number assigned to each device on the Internet.

Internet Protocol (IP)

A protocol for sending data across the Internet that assigns unique numbers to each device.

Router

A type of computer that forwards data across a network.

Packet

A chunk of data sent over a network, which may arrive in order, out of order, or not at all.

Redundancy

The inclusion of extra components so that a system can continue to work if individual components fail.

Fault Tolerant

A system that can continue to function even in the event of component failures.

HTTP

HyperText Transfer Protocol; the protocol used for transmitting web pages over the Internet.

Internet

A computer network consisting of interconnected networks that use standardized communication protocols.

World Wide Web

A system of linked pages, programs, and files accessible via the Internet.

Digital Divide

Differing access to computing devices and the Internet based on socioeconomic characteristics.

User Interface

The inputs and outputs that allow a user to interact with a piece of software.

Input

Data that are sent to a computer for processing by a program.

Output

Any data that are sent from a program to a device.

Program Statement

A command or instruction in programming.

Program

A collection of program statements executed one command at a time.

Sequential Programming

Program statements that run in order, from top to bottom.

Event Driven Programming

Programming where statements run when triggered by an event.

Documentation

A written description of how a command or piece of code works.

Comment

Program documentation written into the code for human understanding.

Pair Programming

A collaborative programming style where two programmers exchange roles.

Debugging

Finding and fixing problems in an algorithm or program.

Development process

The steps or phases used to create a piece of software, including investigating and testing.

Event

An action that supplies input data to a program.

Expression

A combination of operators and values that evaluates to a single value.

Assignment Operator

Allows a program to change the value represented by a variable.

Variable

A named reference to a value that can be used repeatedly in a program.

String

An ordered sequence of characters.

Boolean Value

A data type that is either true or false.

Comparison Operators

Operators like

Logical operator

Operators like NOT, AND, and OR that evaluate to a Boolean value.

Conditional Statement

A statement that executes different actions based on a Boolean expression.

Function

A named group of programming instructions.

Function Call

A command that executes the code within a function.

List

An ordered collection of elements.

Element

An individual value in a list assigned a unique index.

Index

A method for referencing elements in a list or string using numbers.

Iteration

A repetitive portion of an algorithm that repeats based on a condition.

Infinite loop

Occurs when the ending condition of a loop will never evaluate to true.

Traversal

The process of accessing each item in a list one at a time.

Data abstraction

Managing complexity in programs by naming a collection of data without specifics.